PM 06-16-07: Child Care Copayments

Clients who receive child care services are required to help pay for the cost of their child care. Exception: An RPY who is not a parent/stepparent of a child who receives TANF assistance is not required to make a copayment for child care needed while they work.

CCR&Rs and licensed centers under contract with DHS determine and deduct the child care copayment from child care payments they provide. When a client receives child care from a CCR&R or licensed center under contract with DHS, do not subtract an additional copayment from any child care payment the FCRC provides as an employment expense or as a temporary need for work and training.

When the client does not receive child care from a CCR&R or licensed center under contract with DHS, the FCRC determines and subtracts the copayment amount from a child care payment issued as an employment expense or as a temporary need for work and training, except as follows.

The client's copayment for child care needed during the first 30-day period on a job may be issued as an employment expense, if requested by the client (see WAG 21-05-01).

A Front Door contractor does not deduct a copayment when they make a child care payment on behalf of a TANF applicant.

The amount of the copayment depends upon:

gross monthly income,

family size; and

children's school attendance.

Verification of these eligibility factors is required:

at the initial application for child care,

every 6 months, and

whenever a change that may affect the copayment amount is reported or discovered.

Review the factors each time a child care payment is authorized. See WAG 25-03-14 for copayment amount tables.

Use the monthly copayment amount for both full and partial months of care. If the provider charges less than the applicable copayment amount, the parent pays the actual cost of care and no payment will be made by the State.